Funeral Ceremonies for Slain Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei Begin in Tehran with International Attendance

The casket of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was carried into Tehran's Grand Mosalla on Friday morning. -Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, lay in state ahead of a funeral scheduled to run from July 4 to July 9. Mourners carried the coffin aloft at the religious complex.

Delegations from Hamas and Hezbollah joined the proceedings, and representatives from around 30 countries were expected to attend. Iranian officials projected attendance of 15-20 million people across events that will include a tour of cities in Iran and Iraq. Gen.

Ahmad Vahidi, who leads Iran's Revolutionary Guard, emerged from hiding on Thursday and attended a service beside the casket. Vahidi had not been seen publicly since Feb. 8. Iran's army chief Maj. Gen.

Amir Hatami said the military would avenge the supreme leader's death. Qatari and Pakistani mediators stated that the next meetings between Iranian and U.S. negotiators would be scheduled at the earliest possible time after the funeral commemorations.

President Trump said in a CNBC interview that the conflict was not a war but the de-nuking of Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with President Trump on Friday and congratulated him on the 250th anniversary of U.S. Independence Day.

The two leaders agreed to meet in the United States soon. Netanyahu last visited the U.S. in mid-February. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev paid respects at the coffin and met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Afghanistan's foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also visited the casket. Yemen's Houthis warned Saudi Arabia on Friday against violating Yemeni airspace after accusing Riyadh of an intrusion at 5:20 a.m. local time.

Spokesman Yahya Saree said any repeat would prompt strikes on Saudi airports and assets. More than 640,000 displaced people in Lebanon have returned home since a ceasefire began June 21, according to the International Organization for Migration. About 500,000 remain displaced, while Lebanese authorities report roughly 4,300 killed and over 1 million displaced by Israeli attacks.